COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland director of athletics Kevin Anderson announced the promotion of Rob Vaughn to head coach of the baseball program Thursday. Vaughn, who previously served as Maryland’s associate head coach, becomes the eighth head coach in program history.
“Rob is one of the top young coaches in all of collegiate baseball,” Anderson said. “He is a dynamic recruiter and excels in player development. Rob has played an integral role in the baseball program’s recent run of success. I’m confident that Rob will successfully lead our program.” Halfway
Vaughn, 29, was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2017 season after serving as assistant head coach (2015-16) and assistant coach (2012-15) for the Terps. Maryland has won 180 games over Vaughn’s five years, the most successful stretch in school history. The Terrapins advanced to three NCAA Regionals during Vaughn’s tenure and two NCAA Super Regionals, the first two Super Regional appearances in program history.
“I would like to first thank Kevin Anderson for entrusting me with leading the program here at Maryland,” Vaughn said. “Five years ago, Coach Szefc gave me an opportunity to start my career and I would not be in the position I am today without his friendship and trust – I will forever be indebted to John Szefc. I truly believe that this program is just scratching the surface of what it can become. I am going to work extremely hard to assemble a staff that has a passion for developing men of character and that will continue to recruit the best players in the country. What a great opportunity that we have in front of us and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Maryland has won 30 games in each five of Vaughn’s seasons, a school-record streak. The Terps won a program-record 42 games in 2015, and the top three winningest seasons in Maryland history (2015, 2014, 2017) have all come with Vaughn on staff. The Terps have won eight NCAA Tournament games with Vaughn in College Park after winning just one in the entirety of the program’s history.
Vaughn served as Maryland’s recruiting coordinator during his time in College Park and helped orchestrate the highest-ranked class in Maryland history in 2015, with D1Baseball.com ranking the class at No. 17.
Vaughn’s player development ability has paid dividends for Maryland’s position players over his five years in College Park. He has helped produce two All-Americans (Brandon Lowe, Kevin Martir), four freshman All-Americans, 10 all-conference selections and eight draft picks. He helped Lowe become Maryland’s highest drafted position player in 13 years when he was taken 87th overall in 2015.
As the leader of Maryland’s offense, Vaughn has promoted an exciting offensive style that has utilized both speed and power. In 2017, the Terps hit 67 home runs and stole 101 bases, both marks that ranked in the top-35 in the nation.
A former standout catcher at Kansas State, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Vaughn started his coaching career in 2010 after spending two years in the Chicago White Sox organization. He served as a student assistant at Kansas State in 2010 before being elevated to volunteer assistant in 2011. Vaughn was hired at Maryland in August of 2012.
A native of Humble, Texas, Vaughn and his wife Kayleigh have a son, Wyatt.
